How the four-day workweek works

This Is Nashville

Studies show that employee well-being, job satisfaction, retention and productivity all increase with a compressed schedule. In a recent six-month trial in the UK, nearly 90% of companies that gave a four-day workweek a try kept with it over a year later. But is it as good as it sounds? And how exactly does it work across different industries?

Today, we’re talking with a researcher and veteran HR leader about the rising popularity of compressed schedules. We'll also hear from one employer about how she transitioned her family business to a four-day workweek and what it's like to work there now from one of the company's team members. Join us!

This episode was produced by Katherine Ceicys.

Guests:

• Timothy Munyon, associate professor of management at Haslam College of Business, University of Tennessee Knoxville

• Tracey Power, chief people officer at Vaco, a global talent solutions company based in Nashville

• Erin Richardson, third generation owner of family business, All-American Pest Control

• Adrian Zavala, operator, All-American Pest Control

Further Reading and Listening

• A study in the UK followed 60 companies that implemented a four-day workweek. Learn more about the results from this NPR story, These companies tried a 4-day workweek. More than a year in, they still love it

• To learn more about the results of several studies on four-day workweeks, read this story from CNN, 4-day workweeks may be around the corner. A third of America’s companies are exploring them.

• Academic researcher and guest Tim Munyon shared some insight about a recent study published out of Iceland in this WATE-TV story, Is a 4-day workweek worth it? What a UT business expert says.

• Many restaurants are embracing the four-day workweek by only staying open for four days per week. For more on this trend, read the NY Times story, Can the Dream of the Four-Day Workweek Start With Restaurants?